idea was too intriguing. What kind of lover would Travis be? She shied away from the thought even as she felt her body ready. She'd already promised herself that she wouldn't worry Jessica, and she wasn't about to sneak around behind her back.
So concentrate on how safe she'd felt when he'd been holding her hand. That's a nice, platonic thought. If Travis wanted to be buddies, that was fine. It was sex that disturbed the mind as well as the senses, and she had enough disturbances in her life just then.
Travis quietly let himself out of the manor and went down the porch steps. It had been a fascinating evening, and not the least interesting facet had been the time spent with Melissa Riley. She had thought the visit had been planned, but she was wrong. It had been pure impulse, and he was not an impulsive man.
Curiosity?
Yes, he was curious, and he'd been rewarded more richly than he'd expected. She was probably the most frank, open person he'd ever met.
And her full-bodied laugh had been as sensual as a hand stroking him.
Jan had once said a man should listen to a woman laugh to determine how good she'd be in bed.
Well, he'd probably never know how good Melissa Riley was in bed. Since her sister was so protective, it would be courting trouble to move in that direction.
But some things were worth a good deal of trouble.
Forget it. He'd once mentally compared Melissa Riley to a firecracker and he didn't need to set off any more rockets than he had already. The situation was explosive enough.
Chapter Eight
"Karlstadt says he'll give you twenty million," Jan van der Beck said. "Not a dollar more."
"If he'll go twenty, he'll go twenty-five. Keep pushing."
"You can say that, but Karlstadt doesn't push easily."
"Then you'll earn your thirty percent."
"His people aren't above taking me out to the country and trying to squeeze your whereabouts out of me."
"Isn't it lucky you don't know?"
"Lucky for you."
"What did you find out from Henri Claron?"
"Nothing definite. I'm still working on him."
"He knows something?"
"Oh, yes. Henri's not a good actor and he's a frighten ed man. Almost as frightened as his wife. She kept looking at me as if I were torturing Henri."
"If he's that nervous, I'm surprised he hasn't been erased."
"He could have taken out insurance." He switched subjects. "Karlstadt's getting very edgy. He's heard about the Russians, and thinks you may be dealing with them too."
"A little worry never hurt anyone."
"Yes, it has, and this time it may be me."
"I promise I won't leave you hanging out on a limb."
"If he goes to twenty-five million, you'd better be prepared to wrap this up in a hurry."
"Then work on Henri Claron."
"What does one have to do with the other?"
"Everything. It all has to come together to get me back to Amsterdam. Come on, Jan, you can do it."
"I'm dealing with Karlstadt. I don't have time. Maybe I can find someone else to put the squeeze on Henri." He sighed. "I'll do my best, Michael."
"One more thing. Can you do some snooping on the Wind Dancer?"
"What? I will not help you steal that statue, Michael."
"I don't want to steal it. I just want to know about security and if it's going on tour anytime soon."
"That sounds pretty suspicious to me. Forget it. I have too much on my plate."
"Well, maybe later." Travis put away his phone and moved over to stand at the window. Karlstadt wasn't the only one on edge. He'd never seen Jan this disturbed, and the Dutchman wasn't one to go off the deep end without cause. Maybe he shouldn't have mentioned the Wind Dancer. It had just occurred to him that since he had found Cassie at the foot of the statue, it might be an avenue worth exploring. Ordinarily, Jan would have agreed with only a few complaints, but his refusal had been curt. It was obvious that he was very worried.
There was still time though. As long as they were bargaining, Jan was safe. Karlstadt would be dangerous only after the deal was made. At that point Travis would
So concentrate on how safe she'd felt when he'd been holding her hand. That's a nice, platonic thought. If Travis wanted to be buddies, that was fine. It was sex that disturbed the mind as well as the senses, and she had enough disturbances in her life just then.
Travis quietly let himself out of the manor and went down the porch steps. It had been a fascinating evening, and not the least interesting facet had been the time spent with Melissa Riley. She had thought the visit had been planned, but she was wrong. It had been pure impulse, and he was not an impulsive man.
Curiosity?
Yes, he was curious, and he'd been rewarded more richly than he'd expected. She was probably the most frank, open person he'd ever met.
And her full-bodied laugh had been as sensual as a hand stroking him.
Jan had once said a man should listen to a woman laugh to determine how good she'd be in bed.
Well, he'd probably never know how good Melissa Riley was in bed. Since her sister was so protective, it would be courting trouble to move in that direction.
But some things were worth a good deal of trouble.
Forget it. He'd once mentally compared Melissa Riley to a firecracker and he didn't need to set off any more rockets than he had already. The situation was explosive enough.
Chapter Eight
"Karlstadt says he'll give you twenty million," Jan van der Beck said. "Not a dollar more."
"If he'll go twenty, he'll go twenty-five. Keep pushing."
"You can say that, but Karlstadt doesn't push easily."
"Then you'll earn your thirty percent."
"His people aren't above taking me out to the country and trying to squeeze your whereabouts out of me."
"Isn't it lucky you don't know?"
"Lucky for you."
"What did you find out from Henri Claron?"
"Nothing definite. I'm still working on him."
"He knows something?"
"Oh, yes. Henri's not a good actor and he's a frighten ed man. Almost as frightened as his wife. She kept looking at me as if I were torturing Henri."
"If he's that nervous, I'm surprised he hasn't been erased."
"He could have taken out insurance." He switched subjects. "Karlstadt's getting very edgy. He's heard about the Russians, and thinks you may be dealing with them too."
"A little worry never hurt anyone."
"Yes, it has, and this time it may be me."
"I promise I won't leave you hanging out on a limb."
"If he goes to twenty-five million, you'd better be prepared to wrap this up in a hurry."
"Then work on Henri Claron."
"What does one have to do with the other?"
"Everything. It all has to come together to get me back to Amsterdam. Come on, Jan, you can do it."
"I'm dealing with Karlstadt. I don't have time. Maybe I can find someone else to put the squeeze on Henri." He sighed. "I'll do my best, Michael."
"One more thing. Can you do some snooping on the Wind Dancer?"
"What? I will not help you steal that statue, Michael."
"I don't want to steal it. I just want to know about security and if it's going on tour anytime soon."
"That sounds pretty suspicious to me. Forget it. I have too much on my plate."
"Well, maybe later." Travis put away his phone and moved over to stand at the window. Karlstadt wasn't the only one on edge. He'd never seen Jan this disturbed, and the Dutchman wasn't one to go off the deep end without cause. Maybe he shouldn't have mentioned the Wind Dancer. It had just occurred to him that since he had found Cassie at the foot of the statue, it might be an avenue worth exploring. Ordinarily, Jan would have agreed with only a few complaints, but his refusal had been curt. It was obvious that he was very worried.
There was still time though. As long as they were bargaining, Jan was safe. Karlstadt would be dangerous only after the deal was made. At that point Travis would
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